ATEX & IECEx Panelboards | Distribution Boards for Heat Trace & Lighting Systems in Hazardous Area Locations

Published 24 Jun 2020

Hazardous Area & Explosion Proof Electrical Equipment

Republished by Thorne & Derrick with kind permission of Emerson Appleton
Uploaded by Chris Dodds | Sales Marketing Manager Thorne & Derrick International

Hazardous Area Lighting & Power Panelboards

ATEX & IECEx

For Global Hazardous Area & Explosive Atmosphere Installations

Intro: Appleton Appleton^TM PlexPower^TM Panelboards by Emerson use circuit breaker modules that provide explosion proof protection for standard off-the-shelf breakers, eliminating the need for a heavy cast enclosure. Component level protection means the panelboard enclosure is lighter, more compact and easier to install.

Breakers can be easily replaced, upgraded or added in the hazardous area zone or workplace with no bolted cover to remove, no need for sealing or rewiring and no danger of compromising flamepath integrity. There’s never been a simpler, more versatile way to protect lighting, power and heat trace circuits in wet, weather exposed, corrosive or hazardous locations.

It’s been ten years ago since now Emerson introduced their Appleton PlexPower™ line of hazardous location distribution boards – bringing the concept of component-level protection to North American markets governed by NEC and CEC standards. With new certifications for IECEx and ATEX installations, Emerson introduced the Appleton PlexPower distribution boards to the global marketplace.

PlexPower Easy To Install, Operate and Maintain.

ATEX & IECEx Panelboards - PlexPower | Low Voltage Electric Power for Hazardous Area Distribution Systems

ATEX & IECEx Panelboards – Appleton PlexPower | Low Voltage Electric Power for Hazardous Area Distribution Systems & Explosive Gas & Dust Atmospheres

An Innovative Way to Protect
Breakers in Hazardous Area Locations

For Zone 1 and Zone 2 (Gas) and Zone 21 and Zone 22 (Dust) explosive atmosphere applications, Appleton PlexPower distribution boards offer an innovative method for protecting power distribution, lighting and heat trace sytems. Appleton’s exclusive technology incorporates Labyrinth Joint Flamepaths into modular main and branch circuit breaker housings – allowing the use of standard, off-the-shelf circuit breakers that can be replaced in the field, instead of specialized, epoxy-encapsulated breakers.

Easy Maintenance	Easier Upgrades	Easier Operation	Easier Installation

Use infrared scanning to inspect breakers without powering down the panelboard • Minimize downtime and production loss during routine inspection • Replace breakers by opening individual housings with standard hand tools	Add circuits and increase breaker capacity using affordable off-the-shelf breakers • Modular design allows you to expand or reconfigure the panel	Main breaker (MCCB) provides short circuit and overload protection with external actuation for quick reset • Weatherproof windows allow external operation of branch breakers, with no need to open the enclosure	Lighter weight enclosure • No need for special handling equipment • No need to install additional seals such as barrier glands, Teck connectors orconduit seals

PlexPower Features & Benefits

ATEX IECEx Panelboards

Appleton PlexPower offers the versatility to meet your hazardous area power distribution application requirements.

Standard Features

Branch breaker current ratings:
– 1-pole: 120, 240 Amps, 63 Amps maximum
– 2-, 3- and 4-pole: 240 and 415 Amps, 63 Amps maximum
Branch breakers are labeled with numbers:
– Odd numbers for line side
– Even numbers for load side
– Labeled with inside breaker details
Mains circuit breaker rating:
– 40 to 250 Amps, 2- , 3- or 4-pole
Mains and branch breaker combinations offer multiple cascading and short circuit ratings
Branch and mains breakers can be padlocked in either the On or Off position
Breaker modules supplied with captive bolts
Ground bar provided as standard
External ground lug provided as standard
240/415 Volts breaker module 8-pole terminal wire range: 2.5 mm2 through 10 mm2 (standard), 16 mm2 with special lug
600 Volts mains breaker module 4-pole terminal wire range: 16 mm2 through 150 mm2
Optional gland plate at the bottom of enclosure can be easily field punched or drilled for cable or conduit entries

Standard Options

Drain, add suffix – D
Drain/breather, add suffix – DV
Gland plate bottom only, specify suffix – GPP = plastic gland plate, – GPB = brass gland plate, —GPS = stainless steel gland plate.
316 L stainless steel enclosure material, add suffix —316L
Stainless steel legend plate (specify legend), add suffix – SP
Voltmeter, add suffix – VM
Ammeter, add suffix – AM
Cable glands installed, add suffix – CG; (cable details to be provided by customer)
For Ex de IIC, add suffix – IIC
Optional frame (structure) for floor mounting, self standing with and without canopy; contact your local sales representative for additional information

Standard Materials

Enclosure: fiberglass reinforced polyester (FRP) or 304 stainless steel
Hardware: stainless steel
Bus bar: hard drawn copper
Chassis: hot dip galvanized for wall mounting

This unique flameproof design offers many advantages. For example, the Appleton PlexPower uses standard circuit breakers which are less expensive than sealed breakers and are easier to source and stock. The lightweight, corrosion-resistant polyester enclosure is easy to mount, and the door can be opened without needing to remove multiple bolts and without compromising the flameproof integrity of individual breaker housings.

Hazardous Area Industries & Applications

ATEX IECEx Panelboards are specified extensively in the following industry sectors:

Chemical Plants
Process Facilities
Petroleum Plants
Refineries

ATEX Panelboards

Flexible Installation

Appleton PlexPower is engineered to solve operational problems, easily adapting to your installation needs while providing the flexibility you require to reconfigure electrical power circuits and increase capacity at any time.

Modular Design Panelboards | Versatile Circuit Configurations

Appleton PlexPower distribution boards are also designed to fit a user’s unique power requirements and installation footprint. The modular design allows multiple distribution panel boards to be coupled together horizontally or vertically, offering practically unlimited circuit configurations while adapting to the available space.

A hot-dip galvanized steel wall mounting frame is included with each distribution board, and an optional self-standing frame is available for floor mounting, with or without a canopy, making the Appleton PlexPower distribution board flexible to any installation requirements.

A 50 kA copper busbar simplifies wiring while providing robust, reliable connections in a compact space. Factory installed Increased Safety line and load terminations are sized to accommodate branch breakers up to 32 amps, so facilities can easily upgrade ampacity in the future without rewiring the distribution board. Optional removable gland plates can be punched or drilled in the field to accommodate cable or conduit entries.

Operation & Maintenance Of The PlexPower

ATEX & IECEx Panelboards - PlexPower

RUGGED CABLE TERMINATION – Each circuit breaker housing connects to the panelboard through Increased Safety line and load terminations for unyielding performance through years of heavy vibrations and shocks
VENTING PLATE – Unique design of breaker housing allows safe heat dissipation, enabling breakers to maintain their rated amperage while eliminating nuisance tripping
FLAMEPROOF ENCLOSURE HOUSING – Labyrinth joint construction maintains hazardous location rating while allowing easy dissassembly for servicing breakers
FIELD REPLACEABLE BREAKER – Standard, off-the-shelf circuit breakers are easy to obtain and reduce inventory costs and downtime.

Operating the distribution board is simple, with external actuation of the main breaker, as well as branch breakers through a weatherproof window. Breakers can be locked in the On or Off position, with the ability to use multiple lockouts on the main breaker for extra security. Plus, PlexPower is the only ATEX, IECEx certified distribution board that allows user’s to reconfigure or replace breakers in the field anytime, with no specialized components required.

PlexPower distribution boards are available in six standard configurations, fulfilling a majority of hazardous area field requirements. Panelboards can also be coupled together to create over 300 configurations, as well as custom configurations to suit any specific requirements.

Hazardous Area Certifications

ATEX/IECEx: ATEX Certified Panel Board | Hazardous Area & Explosive Atmospheres
— Zone 1 and 2 – 21 and 22 Hazardous Areas
— II2GD
— EPL Gb Db
— Ex db eb IIB+H2
— Ex tb IIIC
— IP66/IK10

ATEX/IECEx — Optional:
— Zone 1 and 2 – 21 and 22 Hazardous Areas
— II2GD
— EPL Gb Db
— Ex db eb IIC
— Ex tb IIIC
— IP66/IK10 IECEx Certified Panel Board | Hazardous Area & Explosive Atmospheres

Ambient Temperature Ratings:
— Standard model:
–25°C to +55°C (–13°F to +131°F)
— Standard model without switching:
–40°C to +55°C (–40°F to +131°F)

About Emerson’s brand Appleton

Since 1903, the Appleton brand of Emerson has been the hallmark for electrical products designed to protect people and equipment while delivering reliable power. They supply the widest range of lighting fixtures, electrical fittings, plugs and receptacles, control stations, distribution panels and more. All are manufactured with the highest quality materials and finishes.

With the addition of ATX hazardous area product lines and ongoing new product introductions, Emerson offers Appleton products with certified protection for any environment, from ordinary commercial settings to hazardous locations (NEC, CEC, IEC, ATEX, and more) and the harshest industrial conditions – onshore or offshore, in any region of the world.

leaders in ATEX Product Innovation

To The Hazardous Area Industries

Thorne & Derrick are leaders in the development and distribution of Product Innovations that deliver significant improvements to clients plant, people and operational safety in the explosive atmosphere industries.

Your proactive problem solvers experienced in succession planning for the replacement of obsolete, non-conformant and legacy equipment in hazardous areas.

Your first-choice provider of innovative and competitive solutions to ensure ATEX & IECEx Compliance for Hazardous Area Electrical, HVAC & Process Instrumentation Equipment to UK and international projects.